Very small Cyriocosmus sling

[AlexWae]

Hello guys,
Since a few weeks i have a c. Elegans Sling.. just a few mm "big"
I've seen it eat just once.. but since than it's dug it's burrow and i haven't seen it again..
Nor has it touched any of the food i offered..

Anyone have any experience with this species and extremely small slings?

 

[CommanderBacon]

Yep! Mine have all been amazing eaters. As per usual, if it closed in the top of its burrow, leave it alone. They will also scavenge that that size, so leaving pieces of food in there for them is fine.

It won't take much for them to max out on food and go into premolt at that size, so don't worry too much. They are fast growers, so I keep mine on the same feeding schedule as my other slings and just pay attention to their burrow. If it's closed up, I inject a little water into the bottom of their dram vial and let them be until they open it up again.

Just pay attention to the moisture over the winter.

 

[cold blood]

How is it housed?

I'm betting it's housed in an enclosure a bit too large. Post pics of the set up.

 

[AlexWae]

It's in a small vail.. so can't go much smaller than that..

 

[cold blood]

Vials SUCK. Inadequate ventilation and a lack of floor space, which means the sling has one way to go, down. This leads directly to excessive hiding.

 

[CommanderBacon]

Vials SUCK. Inadequate ventilation and a lack of floor space, which means the sling has one way to go, down. This leads directly to excessive hiding.

I've kept all of my Cyriocosmus slings in drams with no issues. They're fossorial, so I expect them to dig.

How do you keep yours?

 

[cold blood]

1 oz condiment cup. The small size and floor space allow the sling to adopt the whole cup as it's hide....as a result, they typically sit in the open, making them easier to monitor and increasing the prey drive....which leads to faster growth....really it's the excessive burrowing and hiding that slows growth more than anything.

Its fine if they burrow, but it's gonna stay tiny longer and not be able to be monitored by the human.....I prefer to see my slings.

As you can see, my teeny slings sit in the open waiting for food 24/7.

 

[CommanderBacon]

1 oz condiment cup. The small size and floor space allow the sling to adopt the whole cup as it's hide....as a result, they typically sit in the open, making them easier to monitor and increasing the prey drive....which leads to faster growth....really it's the excessive burrowing and hiding that slows growth more than anything.

Its fine if they burrow, but it's gonna stay tiny longer and not be able to be monitored by the human.....I prefer to see my slings.

Ah I see.

I've never kept them in deli cups because I expect them to burrow and give them space to do so. Mine have all grown incredibly fast, so if putting them in a deli cup would make them grow faster somehow, I think I'm okay with them in the drams!

Mine have all burrowed next to the enclosure wall, as well, so I haven't had an issue with not seeing them, although that wouldn't bother me. I think roughly half of my collection is fossorial, so I'm comfortable with pet holes at this point and don't need to see them.

I personally think the setup OP has is fine and would keep it that way myself.

 

[Kitara]

Mine isn't eating either yet, but we just got her Sunday so probably just settling in. She's webbed the floor a bit. I've listened to @cold blood and mine is in a little deli cup. 4oz or maybe 2oz. I don't remember. She's just a tiny little thing.

 

[AlexWae]

Ok, but it looks like there's not that much depth in your substrate?

 

[Vanessa]

I've kept all of mine in vials as well, just not the hard plastic ones. I have the soft plastic ones with sufficient airholes in them and they work just fine.

 

[viper69]

.

Anyone have any experience with this species and extremely small slings?

I do.

 

[StormyMyth729]

@cold blood do your 1-oz cups come with lids?
I am getting a tiny c.elegans sling next week and I'm debating on what to put it in. I hate using vials as well. I have little 1-oz medicine cups and they would work perfect..if i could find a lid lol

 

[cold blood]

@cold blood do your 1-oz cups come with lids?
I am getting a tiny c.elegans sling next week and I'm debating on what to put it in. I hate using vials as well. I have little 1-oz medicine cups and they would work perfect..if i could find a lid lol

of course, same type of lid any other condiment has.

I will say, most of the time I see 1oz ones available, theres no covers, but i do know they make them...lol....wouldnt make very good housing without a lid....hehe.

 

[StormyMyth729]

of course, same type of lid any other condiment has.

I will say, most of the time I see 1oz ones available, theres no covers, but i do know they make them...lol....wouldnt make very good housing without a lid....hehe.

Haha right. I just wasn't sure if you bought lids or made them somehow lol i don't really have time to find lids for the cups I have..so I think I'm gonna go to a dollar store and see if I can find something similar. Thanks!